Elizabeth Hare
Quantitative Geneticist/Owner
Dog Genetics LLC, Astoria, NY
Employment
Quantitative Geneticist/Owner, Dog Genetics LLC
Selected Contracts
2021-2023 Detector Dog Phenotype-Genotype
Project PennVet Working Dog Center (Philadelphia, PA)
- Developed anew C-BARQ-based questionnaire for selection and study of detector dogs
- Cleaned and Analyzed data from behavior tests and questionnaires
- Produced organized, documented data sets for collaborators
- Wrote and maintained R code for analyses and internal reports with version control and emphasis on reusability
2018-2021 Long-Term Behavior and Health
Surveillance of Search-and_Rescue Dogs Responding to the 9/11
Attacks PennVet Working Dog Center (Philadelphia, PA)
- Planned project and obtained funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation
- Analyzed survival data comparing search-and-rescue dogs who responded to 9/11 with dogs who were not deployed
- Compared causes of death between deployed and non-deployed dogs
- Fitted generalized additive models to compare how C-BARQ measures differed between deployed and non-deployed dogs
2015-2021 C-BARQ Traits in Working Dog
Populations PennVet Working Dog Center (Philadelphia, PA)
- Used statistical models to compare C-BARQ traits in dog populations
- Search-and-rescue and pet dogs
- Explosive detection and service dogs in a prison puppy program
2015-2023 Breeding and Selection
Advice PennVet Working Dog Center (Philadelphia, PA)
- Calculated estimated breeding values (EBV) for selectively breeding Labradors
- Building algorithm to help with decisions on accepting donated dogs
2013-2015 Genetics Consultation and
Teaching Leader Dogs for the Blind (Rochester Hills, MI)
- Cleaned and organized pedigree, behavior, and health data
- Estimated heritabilities of key traits to assess possible results of selection
- Calculated estimated EBVs and selection indices used to plan breedings
- Taught breeding manager to clean and analyze data and use it to calculate EBVs; provided extensive and detailed written documentation
2010-2013 Lead, DHS-Funded Genetics and
Genomics Project TSA Canine Breeding and Development
Center (San Antonio, TX)
- Proposed and received funding for multi-year study of behavior and health genetics and genomics of explosives detector dogs
- Supervised a Research Coordinator who built a database, entered behavior and health data, and collected and shipped DNA samples for genotyping
- Analyzed heritabilities of work-related behaviors
- Provided EBVs and selection indices to identify dogs with the highest genetic potential to retain as breeding stock
- Used genotype data to screen for genomic regions associated with key behaviors
- Collaborated in an analysis to find genomic regions associated with acceptance for further training
Previous Positions Held
2006-2010 Postdoctoral Associate/Research
Associate Professor South Texas Psychiatric Genetics
Research Center (San Antonio, TX)
- Organized and cleaned data from multi-site international studies including human pedigrees, diagnoses, and measured behavioral phenotypes
- Estimated heritabilities of the age of onset of schizophrenia and personality traits in families affected by bipolar disorder
- Provided statistical analyses for studies of genetic linkage and association and behavioral phenotypes (anxiety, substance use)
2002-2004 Research Geneticist USDA
Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (Beltsville, MD)
- Analyzed rates of participation in dairy phenotype testing
- Characterized the US dairy cattle population by describing trends in length of herd testing participation and calving intervals
1998-2002 Research Associate Animal
Breeding and Genetics Group, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
- Designed and taught distance education courses in canine and feline genetics
- Provided statistical analysis for studies on Heritability of catalase levels in rams and and effects of day length on hormone concentration in rabbits
Volunteer Positions
2022-2024 Assistant Director, Data Management and
Open Science (ManyDogs Project)
2023-2024 Co-Lead, Accessibility Working Group (The
Turing Way)
2022-2024 Book Dash Contributor (The Turing Way)
2019-2024 Conference and Accessibility Teams
(FORWARDS Taskforce for Women and Other Underrepresented
Minorities)
2010-2020 Conference Organizer, Grant Writer (PennVet
Working Dog Center)
Recent Awards and Financial Support
2024 rOpenSci Champions Program (rOpenSci)
2024 Co-Host of The Turing Way Fireside Chat:
Evolving Open Science and Research Software Communities for
Accessibility and Inclusion (Society of Research Software
Engineering)
Education
1998 Ph.D., Genetics George
Washington University (Washington, DC)
1991 BA, Biology Bryn Mawr College
(Bryn Mawr, PA)